Local Schools Protest Proposed Teacher Layoffs

As the school bell rung Friday afternoon, despite the steady drizzle, throngs of parents, teachers and young students gathered in front of PS 10 to protest Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s proposed teacher layoffs.

The protestors – waving signs reading things like “Save My Teachers” and “Instruction, Not Destruction” – whistled and chanted as passing cars honked in approval, in a “Fight Back Friday” march from PS 10, past PS 295 to MS 88 with representatives from all schools in attendance.

Bloomberg has proposed laying off four, one and five teachers from PS 10, PS 295 and MS 88 respectively.

Across the neighborhood, at PS 321, teachers and parents wore black in protest of the eight teachers the school stands to loose.

Though the proposed layoffs are few compared to some other schools around the city (the Columbia Secondary School for Math, Science and Engineering in Harlem would loose the most, with 14 out of 20 teachers), parents still say the layoffs will have a profound affect on the schools.

“A potential 130 kids at our school could not have a teacher,” said Dempsey Rice, the mother of a PS 10 kindergartener.

“Or they could be crowded into even larger classes,” added Jen Nelson.

“I really just don’t want to see the classes get even more over populated than they already are,” said another PS 10 parent, Chris Schnieder.

Protestors wondered why Bloomberg couldn’t cut the budget elsewhere, or perhaps eliminate Department of Education programs like the Principal’s Academy or the Fellowship Program, rather than pulling teachers from the classroom.

A PS 295 parent said that the school shouldn’t have to actually lay off any teachers due to some leaving because of pregnancy and other reasons, but because of the way the rules are, they will still have to lay off their most recently hired teacher.

“It makes no sense at all,” said Katharine James.

“It’s not a matter of budget. Bloomberg has his priorities all wrong,” said Elizabeth Ellis, co-president of the PS 10 PTA. “We think he should be putting teachers and students first.”